thedrifter
08-31-03, 02:32 PM
Marines assist local community during flash floods
Submitted by: MCAGCC
Story Identification Number: 2003829172537
Story by Cpl. Craig M. Stowell
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, Calif.(Aug. 26, 2003) -- Tuesday afternoon a flash flood devastated the Twentynine Palms community claiming the lives of three people.
Laura Lee Ridgeway, 38, apparently drowned when her 1991 Dodge stalled while crossing a flood channel. The car was washed three blocks before flipping over and throwing Leslie Jean Juarez, 36, and her daughter from the car.
Prior Marine and family friend Lance Cpl. Jason LeBelle, 29, and Juarez rescued her 14-year-old daughter but the current swept them away while trying to rescue Ridgeway. Both LeBelle and Juarez were later found dead several miles from the site.
The raging waters then forced the vehicle under a bridge that crosses Adobe Road, smashing it to pieces, according to a witness.
While rescue efforts were underway to recover the vehicle, Marines from Delta Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, arrived on the scene to put their amphibious military training to good use.
"When I found out there were still victims in the car I wanted to do everything I could to help out," said Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones, Delta Co., 3rd AAVBn. "We wanted to make it as easy as possible for the police and fire department to do their job."
The police and fire department did not have ropes available to create a safety line to catch any people that might be floating down the stream. However, the Marines had access to ropes and used them to create a much-needed safety line, said Jones.
"Water rescue is something we train for," said Staff Sgt. Nick Mendoza, Delta Co., 3rd AAVBn. "We use those ropes to pull stuck AAVs out of the water, so they would definitely be able to hold someone as a safety line."
In related news, wet roads contributed to two vehicle accidents that left one dead on Highway 62 leaving Twentynine Palms Tuesday afternoon.
More rain was forecasted over the Labor Day weekend. Combat Center residents are warned to take extra precautions when driving this weekend.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200382917443/$file/flood1lowres.jpg
Front to back: Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones, Delta Company 3rd Amphious Assault Vehicle Battalion, Sgt. Matthew Winters, Base Telephone Headquarters Battalion, and a Twentynine Palms Sheriff's deputy pull back on the saftey line brought in by the Marines of D Co. 3rd AAVBn.
Photo by: Cpl. Craig M. Stowell
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003829174237/$file/flood2lowres.jpg
As the waters raged through the flood channel crossing Adobe Rd. Marines worked quickly to get a safety line across the channel to catch anyone that may have fallen into the channel from being swept down stream, while Twentynine Palms Sheriffs deputies tried to rescue a woman trapped in a car.
Photo by: Cpl. Craig M. Stowell
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003829173235/$file/flood3lowres.jpg
Sempers,
Roger
Submitted by: MCAGCC
Story Identification Number: 2003829172537
Story by Cpl. Craig M. Stowell
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, Calif.(Aug. 26, 2003) -- Tuesday afternoon a flash flood devastated the Twentynine Palms community claiming the lives of three people.
Laura Lee Ridgeway, 38, apparently drowned when her 1991 Dodge stalled while crossing a flood channel. The car was washed three blocks before flipping over and throwing Leslie Jean Juarez, 36, and her daughter from the car.
Prior Marine and family friend Lance Cpl. Jason LeBelle, 29, and Juarez rescued her 14-year-old daughter but the current swept them away while trying to rescue Ridgeway. Both LeBelle and Juarez were later found dead several miles from the site.
The raging waters then forced the vehicle under a bridge that crosses Adobe Road, smashing it to pieces, according to a witness.
While rescue efforts were underway to recover the vehicle, Marines from Delta Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, arrived on the scene to put their amphibious military training to good use.
"When I found out there were still victims in the car I wanted to do everything I could to help out," said Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones, Delta Co., 3rd AAVBn. "We wanted to make it as easy as possible for the police and fire department to do their job."
The police and fire department did not have ropes available to create a safety line to catch any people that might be floating down the stream. However, the Marines had access to ropes and used them to create a much-needed safety line, said Jones.
"Water rescue is something we train for," said Staff Sgt. Nick Mendoza, Delta Co., 3rd AAVBn. "We use those ropes to pull stuck AAVs out of the water, so they would definitely be able to hold someone as a safety line."
In related news, wet roads contributed to two vehicle accidents that left one dead on Highway 62 leaving Twentynine Palms Tuesday afternoon.
More rain was forecasted over the Labor Day weekend. Combat Center residents are warned to take extra precautions when driving this weekend.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200382917443/$file/flood1lowres.jpg
Front to back: Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones, Delta Company 3rd Amphious Assault Vehicle Battalion, Sgt. Matthew Winters, Base Telephone Headquarters Battalion, and a Twentynine Palms Sheriff's deputy pull back on the saftey line brought in by the Marines of D Co. 3rd AAVBn.
Photo by: Cpl. Craig M. Stowell
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003829174237/$file/flood2lowres.jpg
As the waters raged through the flood channel crossing Adobe Rd. Marines worked quickly to get a safety line across the channel to catch anyone that may have fallen into the channel from being swept down stream, while Twentynine Palms Sheriffs deputies tried to rescue a woman trapped in a car.
Photo by: Cpl. Craig M. Stowell
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003829173235/$file/flood3lowres.jpg
Sempers,
Roger